Eight late America’s Cup entries
Eight additional notices of challenge for the America’s Cup have been made, but some of them are likely to be ruled out.
The cutoff for late entries was 5pm yesterday.
The eight – who have not been named – are in addition to entries already received from Luna Rossa, American Magic and INEOS Team UK to race in the Prada Cup, which will decide who challenges Team New Zealand for the Auld Mug early in 2021.
The Royal New Zealand Yachting Squadron and Team New Zealand said that only one of the eight late entries was capable of immediate acceptance. The other seven carried conditions.
‘‘Some of the entries are likely to be invalid, something which will be determined through a vetting process which will begin immediately,’’ the two bodies said in a statement.
The process of assessing the entries and conditions of the eight new challengers will begin immediately with the RNZYS and Team NZ.
Team New Zealand said it was conscious of the need to advise Auckland Council and the Government on the base infrastructure footprint requirement which has an impact on overall costs.
The first races using the new class of Cup boats will take place off the coast of the island of Sardinia in Italy in October next year.
Cagliari was unveiled as the host town for the first event in the 36th America’s Cup World Series, which will serve as a prelude to the main event in Auckland in early 2021.
The regatta next October will be the first of two in 2019, with three to follow in 2020 before the series ends with a regatta in Auckland starting on December 10 that year.
In 2021, the challengers will contest the Prada Cup to find out who races Team New Zealand for the Auld Mug in March.